



Feb. 7, 1956 e. BURRELL ET AL 2,733,880

KITE

Filed Aug. 24, 1954 F ig.

George 6. Burrel/ Bury/ Dean Barre/l INVENTORS,

BY WWW -May United States Patent KITE George G. Burreli and Buryl DeanBurrell, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, assignors of one-third to Robert Kelp,Cedar Rapids, Iowa Application August 24, 1954, erial No. 451,886

1 Claim. (Cl. 244-153) This invention relates in general to aerial toysand more specifically to an improved kite construction.

The average kite is formed of wooden sticks having secured thereto bystrings or paste a thin paper covering. Not only is the average kite ofsuch a nature whereby it must be assembled and disassembled for storagepurposes, there is also inherent weakness of both the paper covering andthe relatively thin, lightweight sticks.

It is therefore the primary object of this invention to provide animproved kite which is constructed whereby the size thereof may bereduced toa minimum when not being utilized, the kite being of such anature whereby it may be flattened out and folded so as to be capable ofbeing carried in ones pocket or being shipped in an envelope.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved kite which isso constructed whereby there are no parts thereof to break.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved kite whichis formed of a single sheet of impervious material, the sheet beingprovided along its periphery with an integral tube capable of retainingair under pressure whereby the tube can add stiffness to the sheet andform therefrom a kite.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred form of kite conforming tothe spirit of this invention and shows the general details thereof;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantiallyalong the plane indicated by the section line 2-2 of Figure l and showsthe exact manner in which the kite is made; and

Figure 3 is a perspective view on a reduced scale of a slightly modifiedform of kite.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that there isillustrated in Figures 1 and 2 a preferred form of the kite which is thesubject of this invention, the

a kite being referredto in general by the reference numeral 10. The kiteis formed of a single sheet of material, preferably a lightweightplastic or rubber material, the sheet being referred to by the referencenumeral 12. The sheet 12 is. cut in the general outline of the kite 10and the peripheral edge thereof is rolled to form a tube 14.

That portion of the sheet 12 which is rolled to form the tube 14 issealed to the remainder of the sheet by a simple heat sealing operationor through the use of suitable adhesive, as desired.

The tube 14 extends about the periphery of the sheet 2,733,880 PatentedFeb. 7, 1956 12. One end of the tube 14 is closed as at 16 and the otherend thereof is provided with an extension 18. The

purpose of the extension 18 is to form a suitable inflating part for thetube 14. The extension 18 also functions as a tail.

Because of the thinness of the sheet 12, it is readily apparent thatwhen the tube 14 is not filled with the air, the kite 10 may beconveniently folded to a flat state and may be carried in ones pocket orshipped in an envelope. When it is desired to utilize the kite 10, thetube 14 is inflated through the use of the extension 18. The extreme endof the extension 18 is folded over as at 20 when the tube 14 is inflatedand tied through the use of a rubber band or other fastening means 22.

In order that the kite 10 may be flown, there is secured to a centralportion of the sheet 12 a reinforcing sheet 24. The reinforcing sheet 24is formed of the same material as the sheet 12 and is suitably securedthereto either by a heat bonding process or through the use of cement.The reinforcing sheet 24 is provided with spaced openings 26 throughwhich a bridle string 28 passes. The bridle string is then tied as at 30to secure it to the reinforcing sheet 24. The kite 10 may then be flownin the customary manner.

Referring now to Figure 3 in particular, it will be seen that there isillustrated a kite which is referred to in general by the referencenumeral 32. The kite 32 has the general outline of a jet plane anddiflers from the kite 10 only in that respect. The kite 32 is formed ofa sheet 34 having the peripheral edges thereof rolled to form acontinuous tube 36. The tube 36 is provided with a filler extension 38.A bridle reinforcing plate 40 is secured to the sheet 34 and hasattached thereto a bridle string 42 for flying the kite 32.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will bereadily understood and further explanation is believed to beunnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact constluction shown and described, andaccordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resortedto, falling within the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

A kite comprising a single thin sheet of impervious material cut to thegeneral outline of the kite to be formed and having edges thereof rolledto form a continuous tube about the periphery of said sheet, said tubebeing adapted to be inflated to stiifen said sheet, means carried byintermediate portions of said sheet for attaching a bridle string, oneend of said tube being closed, the opposite ends of said tube beingprovided with an extension for filling said tube, said extension beingflexible for forming a tail for said kite and folding upon itself andbeing compressible to seal said opposite end against the escape of airfrom the tube, and a tie member for compressing said extension whenfolded and maintaining the same folded.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,480,889 Massa Jan. 15, 1924 2,486,158 Haas Oct. 25, 1949 FOREIGNPATENTS 215,241 Germany Oct. 23, 1909

